Anyone had to give up work around 27 weeks because of pain/exhaustion levels?

I'm exhausted, and frequently breathless. I generally ache all over, mainly due to a pre-existing condition and I have SPD/PGP. My anxiety levels are high and I feel on the verge of depression. I'm seriously considering asking to be signed off until maternity leave. Is this likely to happen? Has anyone else stopped work this early because they feel they simply cannot go on? I'm not even sure how to go about doing it.

You sound like me. Am 23 weeks tomorrow and close to getting signed off. I have told work I have max of another month in me at this level ( already p/t & on reduced duties). Work are accepting as they know that I'm trying to 'tidy up' before I go.

Thanks Ood, glad I'm not alone, but sorry you feel this way too. I had allowances made for me when the PGP appeared. Assistance with certain aspects of my work, and ability to work at home some of the time. But it's not that simple when some things just have to get done properly, and on site. I feel like, if I am there, the work will keep being thrown at me, when all I really want/need to do is prepare for handover and handle the couple of major projects that will conclude/peak in the next fortnight. I'm starting to feel that I might as might not be there, than be there half heartedly and (in their eyes) letting people down. It's like paying the price for always having juggled so much stuff, and always just getting on with it, regardless. No one "gets it" when you feel you really can't go on.

Sounds like your employers are very good, if you are able to focus on tying up the loose ends. I guess I'm going to have to tell mine that that is what I'm doing. Thanks again.

Yes - due to slapped cheek non immunity i had to be signed off (but worked from home-sen teacher) from 9 weeks to 21 weeks but around 11 weeks started having thyroid probs. I managed one week back at work before summer hols but then stress/ thyroid stuff blew me out so i was signed off for tye remainder of the pregnancy - partly also as the school needed to claim the insurance to cover my absence and the children needed stability (autistic).

Ironically the wonderful collegue who took over the reins of my lovely but complex little class, herself had to be signed off at 27 weeks for spd and stress 4 years ago when pregnant with her dd. Both of us have struggled with guilt and a sense of failure - i ended up with extreme anxiety and mild depression over the summer and had to get supporr from perinatal counsellors - im now much better just in time for lo (39 weeks tomorrow!!) But my hips etc actually been great - a friend at nct due same day as me dithered about being signed off for the last few weeks due to spd but soldiered on, however 3 days into maternity leave it all got ten times worse, shes on crutches and possibly looking at early induction, or at least on due date.

My personal view is that the depression/anxiety/general mental fatigue is as bad if not worse than the illness and not worth risking if you feel its getting bad. I found it horribly hard to accept but i didnt realise how ill i was till i had time and space to heal.

See your gp asap please - dont delay. And consider asking for a referral for perinatal counselling team if you feel your head stuff wont settle by having some rest space. Gps tend to be pretty good at cutting women some slack tbh as antenatal depression/anxiety is more common than you think .

Mega cross posting but as you can see its pretty common! I felt horribly ashamed for some time though and only now im better realise how silly it was (we're just all too bloody conscientious!!!) to question it. You really dont want to risk further complications.

Sorry to hear about your preterm labour emu.

That reminds me - my collegue ended up in hospital at around 32 weeks and had her lo at 35 weeks.

Thanks all. Clarella, that post really made sense. I have been treated for anxiety and PND in the past and want to avoid it. I'm so glad I'm not alone. It's hard when you compare yourself to women who work up to the last minute.

Kate, my mat leave is booked for 36 weeks. If I started early, I would get even less time with my baby.

I'm nearly at 32 wks and so exhausted all the time. I've been feeling like this for weeks and collegues don't really understand unless they've been there themselves. And so of course stuff keeps mounting up and you really have to spell out what you need- no one is going to ask you how they can help- I'm learning this the hard way.

I could quite happily give up tomorrow but am not entitled to SMP because I was already preggers when started this job. So just trying to get out of it as much as poss before going on mat leave. Why does putting yourself first involve so much guilt??!!!

Must get to bed, bloody long commute and day of pretending to be on the ball and alert etc. ahead.

24 hours and a long day at work later... Thanks for the new posts but sorry this is happening all round.

Yes, guilt is such a big problem and only adds to the stress.

Re employers triggering mat leave, I was due to start mine at 36 weeks anyway. If I genuinely put myself first i think I have absolutely everything to gain by going sick. But I need to make sure colleagues aren't completely left in the shit. I have set my deadline and worked on handover.

I finished at 30 weeks, I physically couldnt cope with work, I was exhausted just getting there. I didn't go down the 'off sick' route went straight into ml as I felt that was fairer for my employer. The way they shafted me when I went back made me wish I hadn't.

Just submitted a proposal that will bring forward my ML a little bit, but will also see me work drastically reduced hours until then. Here's hoping it's accepted. If refused, I will have to investigate full sick leave

Sounds like it really is time for you to go sick ood. I've brought ML forward and spread out some annual leave, so I'm doing average 1.5 days a week in December. It really will just be handover work/induction for my cover, so nothing strenuous. Good luck at the doc.

I know, it's so hard not to consider colleagues. That's why I did it this way, I want to be there for a few weeks, even if only as a point on contact here and there. BUT you and baby have to come first.

I am 24 weeks and have 3 1/2 weeks work left (I'm a childminder) and cannot wait to finish, I'm so knackered by the end of the day, my pelvis is starting to go wonky and lifting an 18 month old in and out of buggy/high chair/car seat etc is really not helping. This is my 3rd pregnancy - in my first I was signed off for a week with stress (actually antenatal depression, partly I think related to a lot of pressure at work, I was an academic) at 20 something weeks, then effectively finished worked at the end of term when I must have been about 29 weeks, officially started maternity leave at 32 weeks and was rather surprised to find myself giving birth the day after.... second pregnancy I was admitted to hospital with contractions at 29 weeks and managed to hang on until DS2 was born at 34 weeks. So I planned to stop early this time largely because I have no idea when this baby is actually going to arrive, and then ended up cutting back to one mindee. I am so glad I have not planned to go on any longer, I don't think I could do it physically, and the mental/emotional worry of thinking 'oh gosh am I going into labour' every time things get too uncomfortable is getting to me as well. Had a good cry over a lovely midwife a few weeks ago when she pointed out my anxiety about the likelihood of this baby coming too early is exhausting in itself, never mind the actual pregnancy.

I do sometimes feel a bit useless for not being able to keep going longer, but at the end of the day it's only a couple of months out my life, and I know that the longer I can keep this baby in the better for all of us, and the best way to do that is to minimise physical and mental strain for the time being. If you feel you can't go on then seriously, I would say don't. I totally agree with Clarella about getting some help.

So sorry to hear everyone's struggles. For some reason it's easier to accept being signed off work for a broken leg than spd or broken nerves - but because it's pregnancy / mental health and we are all expected to get on with it (pregnancy isn't an illness / stiff upper lip / pull your socks up). No one would dream of running on a broken leg! (Though believe me it took many months for me to realise this! )